Rising Tides, Rising Costs: The Link Between Climate Change and the Devastation of Hurricane Sandy

  Rising Tides, Rising Costs: The Link Between Climate Change and the Devastation of Hurricane Sandy

By: Katherine Monico

In late October 2012, Hurricane Sandy swept through the northeast with destruction and devastation. The Category 3 hurricane produced life-threatening winds and catastrophic flooding in the coastal areas of New York and New Jersey. The record-breaking waves in the Western Atlantic led to the loss of homes, power, and most wrecking of all, the loss of lives. 

Out of all this heartbreak, no one would have expected that $8.1 billion of the damages caused by Hurricane Sandy are attributable to climate-mediated anthropogenic sea level rise[1]. One study conducted by the Climate Program Office used a high-resolution dynamic flood model to conclude an additional 71,000 people were affected by the flooding from these higher seas. Yet, there are still people today who claim that climate change is not a problem and thus do not take action. 

Philip Orton is a research associate professor for the Department of Ocean Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology. Growing up in school, he was unsure about his life’s ambitions as he was troubled to find a particular interest. That is, until he attended Columbia University, where he obtained his PhD in Physical Oceanography. 

Orton currently lives and works in the metropolitan area where he evaluates problems concerning storm surges, climate changes, and pollution. He conducts research in the Urban Ocean Observatory at Davidson Lab on campus. In our interview with Orton[2], he detailed all of the lab's capabilities including the NY/NJ Coastal Observing and Forecasting System, Surface Currents, and a Flood Advisory System. He described how these are done with intricately designed models through a supercomputer. 

During the time leading up to Hurricane Sandy, Orton was able to make predictions about the flooding outcome due to the wave surges, especially in the Hoboken area. He describes that as he continuously monitored the forecast and his models, it became apparent that the sea level was on the rise. Orton was on the air a multitude of times to give updates and advise evacuations in the area.

Standing out of the Hoboken pier listening to Orton’s experience, he described exactly what happened in our area. Looking out onto the park, he stated how the park was man-made so it wasn’t a real hill, but instead large mounds of plastic with sod and grass seeded over it. Given the buoyancy of plastic, as the sea levels rose to the height of the pier, the hill detached from the ground and was moved against the fence, preventing it from entering the city. Regardless, it didn’t prevent Hoboken from flooding and downtown was under several feet of water as the Sandy raged on. 

Orton’s experience is one to take into consideration when addressing climate change and its impact on natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy. As we see temperatures increase and sea levels rise, the lessons learned from Sandy highlight the critical importance of these proactive measures as they are informed by expert insights. Through these efforts, society can strive to minimize future devastation. 

In the difficult times that were October 2012, Orton’s work helped others navigate the storm and get to safety. However, Hurricane Sandy is just one of many natural disasters that has been intensified by climate change and others will follow the same pattern. If people do not recognize climate change to be an everlasting problem, then there is the potential for more destruction as people will not be adequately prepared for the next storm. So as we reflect on Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath, let us listen to experts like Orton and work towards a more resilient future for generations to come. 

1. Kiest, Kristina. “Anthropogenic Climate Change Exacerbated Impacts of Hurricane Sandy, Study Says.” Climate Program Office, 16 Nov. 2023, 

2. Interview with Philip Orton, March 6th, 2024